We had such a blessed holiday season - and instead of blogging about it, I just enjoyed every moment I could! I'll try to post pictures more regularly this year, but please be patient with me for the next 10 weeks. I finish my master's on April 14 - I cannot wait to have free time again! Since I started school when I was six months pregnant, I'm not sure what it feels like to have two little ones without a "part-time job!" For now, I'll try to catch you up on all that has happened this year! I cannot believe it is already February! We rang in the New Year at home, just the four of us. It was a perfect evening.
I love you,
bubba!
B and Carson braved the bitter cold to light off fireworks!
We searched for the pickle ornament on New Year's Eve. Carson hid it for us and when we found it, he told us our surprise was going to get doughnuts the next morning! How could we object?!? After a trip for breakfast, we went to the Children's Museum. We wanted to catch the Yule Slide and visit the awesome new Barbie Exhibit (be sure and check out that great advertising someone I know handles :))! Carson loves the dinosaurs. This was our first visit where Brooke really interacted and showed a lot of interest.
She certainly would have liked to roam the halls, but she spent most of the time in the
Snugli!
The boys waiting in line for the Yule Slide!
My beautiful Barbie outfit - I conned Carson into helping me design it. He was less than thrilled!
Brooke is getting bigger and bigger every day. It seems like she is growing leaps and bounds since her 1st birthday on December 18. She is still a little peanut - weighing in at 17 lbs, 6 ounces, and nearly 32 inches tall at her one-year appointment. Some days she has a better appetite than Carson, so we're not sure where she puts all that food. Her tummy is huge, especially when she is in just a diaper. She loves to steal the
Wii remotes and run and hide!
Brooke has discovered the joy of cinnamon and sugar toast, just like her big brother! I wish you could see her face a little better!
A few weeks ago, an entire box of powdered doughnuts fell on the floor during the morning rush. We thought they had all found their way back into the box, but when I brought the kids home, we learned otherwise! Brooke is usually very anxious to get her coat off, but this day, she wanted out of my arms and quickly disappeared. A few moments later, I heard Carson say, "Baby girl, what are you eating?" We found her hiding under the kitchen table covered in powdered sugar! We laughed, grabbed the camera and naturally, let her finish!
Carson is an amazing big brother. Brooke is so blessed! He is patient with her, a constant protector and is really enjoying her
newfound imitation skills by training her to pick up his toys! Carson has learned as long as he claps for her, Brooke will do almost anything he wants her to! I captured one of their many fun moments on film. Priceless.
Brian was offered tickets for a Pacers game and picked the Pacers-
Lakers game. They invited our good friend Charlie and his son, one of Carson's buddies, Jack, also in Kindergarten. They had a great time and especially enjoyed the
snowcones! At the old age of 5 1/2, Carson has seen both
Lebron James and Kobe Bryant play basketball! What a life!
Carson lost his first two teeth over the holidays, but his permanent teeth are quickly coming in. He is becoming an excellent reader and has started
journaling with phonetic spelling. We are constantly amazed at how grown-up he is getting. It's hard to believe he will be 6 this Spring.
Brooke moved into the 'big girl' room at her daycare on Monday, graduating from a Baby Beluga to a Guppy! She was obviously very excited, as you can see by this huge grin on her face.
Brooke has 10 teeth now, with two more molars and two other teeth coming in. She eats almost anything you put in front of her and insists on running everywhere! She has a bit of a temper and her vocabulary is expanding nearly every day. She can say Dada, Mama,
Bubba which is evolving into
Bubby, hi, bye-bye, uh-oh, ball, Papa, Nana, baby, "mo" for more, puppy, duck....every animal says, "huh, huh" and she pats her head for every body part you ask her to identify. We laugh, which just encourages her even more. When we're in public, she acts like she is in a parade - smiling, waving and saying hi to anyone who will look at her. It's usually really cute - until communion at mass! Brooke can be a pistol, but we keep telling ourselves she will be a strong woman some day. We cannot imagine our life without her.
Look at that mouthful of teeth! Bless her heart - she has two more molars coming in, has a cough, a runny nose and yucky, draining ears.... we're so blessed she has JOY in her heart!
Looking so stylish in his shades! 
The snow was very wet and heavy. With the wind gusts, some of the snow in our driveway was up to Brian's hips! 
This is what we woke up to on Saturday. Thankfully, the sun was shining all weekend!
Brooke was so excited - she kept saying "ooh" and pointing outside.
I love you, bubba!
B and Carson braved the bitter cold to light off fireworks!
We searched for the pickle ornament on New Year's Eve. Carson hid it for us and when we found it, he told us our surprise was going to get doughnuts the next morning! How could we object?!? After a trip for breakfast, we went to the Children's Museum. We wanted to catch the Yule Slide and visit the awesome new Barbie Exhibit (be sure and check out that great advertising someone I know handles :))! Carson loves the dinosaurs. This was our first visit where Brooke really interacted and showed a lot of interest.
She certainly would have liked to roam the halls, but she spent most of the time in the Snugli!
My beautiful Barbie outfit - I conned Carson into helping me design it. He was less than thrilled!
A few weeks ago, an entire box of powdered doughnuts fell on the floor during the morning rush. We thought they had all found their way back into the box, but when I brought the kids home, we learned otherwise! Brooke is usually very anxious to get her coat off, but this day, she wanted out of my arms and quickly disappeared. A few moments later, I heard Carson say, "Baby girl, what are you eating?" We found her hiding under the kitchen table covered in powdered sugar! We laughed, grabbed the camera and naturally, let her finish!
Carson is an amazing big brother. Brooke is so blessed! He is patient with her, a constant protector and is really enjoying her newfound imitation skills by training her to pick up his toys! Carson has learned as long as he claps for her, Brooke will do almost anything he wants her to! I captured one of their many fun moments on film. Priceless.
Brian was offered tickets for a Pacers game and picked the Pacers-Lakers game. They invited our good friend Charlie and his son, one of Carson's buddies, Jack, also in Kindergarten. They had a great time and especially enjoyed the snowcones! At the old age of 5 1/2, Carson has seen both Lebron James and Kobe Bryant play basketball! What a life! 
